HAPPY THURSDAY!
I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying another beautiful Friday eve. I'm doing well, very sleepy today. I had to get up at 6am, I'm not used to working 8am-5pm anymore. Lately I've been sleeping until 9am, because my schedule is 11am -8pm, and I usually don't get to bed until after midnight. Needless to say, I'm dragging today. I'm very excited to be going to see The Color Purple, at the Kennedy Center tonight. I heard it was a wonderful play, and Fantasia does an awesome job. I'll let you know how it was tomorrow, and of course there will be pictures. For some reason Facebook sent all of my contacts a friend request, I apologize for that. I try not to bombard your inbox with unnecessary e-mails, but if you are on Facebook, send me a friend request. Have a wonderful day, whatever you do, do it for the Lord.
Today's scriptures are about our new righteous garments. I don't know one person who doesn't like to shop for new clothes. When we wear something new, it gives us a feeling of confidence, and makes us walk with a certain spring in our step. Even as children, when we had new clothes to start a new school year, we felt confident about the fresh new start. By the Grace of God, and the blood of Jesus, we're clothed new everyday. Salvation gave us a righteous new look, because we put off our old life, and old ways, and God dresses us up in our Sunday's best, to go out and represent Him to the world. The garments that He clothes us with shines bright for the world to see, and could never be removed. They could get a little dusty because of sin, however the blood of Jesus cleanses us anew, through our repentance. Before we had Jesus, we were clothed in the flesh. As we know, Adam and Eve broke our Spiritual connection with God, by eating from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden. God never stopped loving them, but He separated Himself from them, and they became sinners. Through them came a sinful human race, but although we’re natural born sinners, God loves us unconditionally. So much so that He gave His only Son to die for our sins. With this covenant our spirit is being transformed. We're separated from our flesh, because of the Holy Spirit. We get a righteous makeover of sorts. Slowly but surely our walk and talk is transformed. Our attitude and way of thinking is renewed to the ways of Christ. God begins this awesome transformation from sinner to saint. Hallelujah! Eventually we become strangers to our old selves, and people start to notice a new glow about us. When someone asks what's different about you, tell him or her you've had a Spiritual makeover, and received an entire new wardrobe full of peace, love, happiness, joy, and contentment. These things aren't easy to come by, because we're in this constant battle with our flesh. We learned a few days ago, that we're going to be tempted by the devil. It's written that we have a legion of Angels watching over us, so we have the right accessories to go with our new look. I love Romans 8, Paul breaks down the difference between the Spirit and the flesh, and my favorite verses are verses 9-11: But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. God is still in control of all things on this earth, and He's chosen each of us to wear this "Royal Robe of Righteousness". We've been given a new and ever lasting life that will reign forever, and that's a reason to rejoice! Once we're made over, it's time to pay it forward, by putting on the Armor of God, and facing the world. It's written in Ephesians 6:14-18: Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints... Now that we're in the Spirit we could communicate in the Spirit, but we're still comprised of flesh, so we could also communicate with the flesh, it's important to know the difference and use the two. We mustn’t allow our flesh to control us to a point where we sin, but we mustn’t speak from the Spirit to the lost, who cannot understand the Spirit. This is where God's wisdom comes into play. Once the Holy Spirit enters our heart, there is no turning back. Did you know as long as you're saved you have the Armor of God? Your flesh no longer dictates your actions, because you have been released from the penalties of sin, and are in the process of being made over, all you have to do is submit to God's will, and step out of his way. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as you're Savior then you're dead in the flesh, Jesus is the only way to be born again. If you need a prayer partner, I'll be more than happy to pray with you, because that's what I'm here for. My favorite verses today are: Ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. (Colossians 3:9-10)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455022&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=5283727&ct=7162497
I love you!
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